Method and articles for adornment of footwear

ABSTRACT

An adornment for application to an article of footwear includes a decorative element sized and shaped for conforming application about the quarter of a shoe and two or more fasteners operably affixed to the decorative element and adapted to removably affix the decorative element directly to the quarter of the shoe. The decorative element may be formed as a decorative panel, a decorative construct, a decorative strip or the like. In the case of a panel or construct, clips or clasps are used for engaging the cuff about the throat of the shoe. In the case of a decorative strip, a novel use of magnetic fasteners is disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to footwear. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and articles for selective adornment of a shoe whereby a single shoe may take on virtually unlimited outward appearances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As particularly shown in FIG. 1, a typical shoe 20 as well known in the art generally comprises an upper 21 attached through a welt 27 to the outsole of the shoe 20, which may have affixed thereto any manner of heel arrangements. The upper 21, which may be constructed of any of a variety of materials such as, for example, leather, satin, suede or canvas, generally includes the vamp 24 for covering the top part of the wearer's toes between the toe box 30 and the forward portion of the throat 28 of the shoe 20, the quarter 22 for covering the sides and back 31 of the wearer's foot and the lining 25 interior to the shoe 20 extending generally about the area defined by the quarter 22 and running from the footbed 29 to the cuff 26 about the throat 28 of the shoe 20. While any number of decorative elements may be incorporated into any particular design for a shoe 20, including variations in material, color, decorative pattern or appliqué, ornamental stitching and the like, it is noted that in generally any selected design element is permanent and not subject to change.

Because a shoe of any reasonable quality represents a substantial financial investment, the selection of any one shoe appropriate for multiple uses or occasions is often a frustrating task that more often than not ends in the purchase of multiple styles. In addition to being costly, however, this course of action also presents a storage problem, shoes being generally bulky and cumbersome to organize. As a result of these shortcomings, the use of spats has gained some popularity with those looking to add some variety to their wardrobe or attempting to economically follow a trend. Unfortunately, the manner of application of spats—in particular the use of ankle straps and/or straps extending under the outsole—generally presents an undesirable appearance counteracting any styling added by the spats.

It is therefore an overriding object of the present invention to improve over the prior art by the presentation of a method and articles for selective adornment of a shoe whereby a single shoe may take on virtually unlimited outward appearances, the method and articles being usable without indication that the shoe is not of unitary construction. Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to present such a method and articles that are comfortable to the wearer, simple to use and inexpensive to employ.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention—an adornment for application to an article of footwear—generally comprises a decorative element sized and shaped for conforming application about the quarter of a shoe and a plurality of fasteners operably affixed to the decorative element and adapted to removably affix the decorative element directly to the quarter of the shoe. The decorative element may comprise a decorative panel, a decorative construct, a decorative strip or the like. In the case of a panel or construct, the present invention generally contemplates the use of clips or clasps for engaging the cuff about the throat of the shoe. In the case of a decorative strip, however, it is found that a novel use of magnetic fasteners is simple, efficient and effective.

Finally, many other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts, especially in light of the foregoing discussions and the following drawings, exemplary detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, a detailed description of the preferred embodiment follows together with illustrative figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows, in a left side elevational view, a typical shoe as known in the prior art and generally suitable for application thereto of the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows, in a front side elevational view, a first preferred embodiment of an adornment constructed according to various teachings of the present invention showing, in particular, the outward decorative appearance presented thereby;

FIG. 3 shows, in a rear side elevational view, the adornment of FIG. 2 showing, in particular, a first fastener arrangement suitable for use in the depicted and other embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows, in a left side elevational view, a shoe generally of the character of that of FIG. 1 having applied thereto the adornment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows, in a top plan view, a second preferred embodiment of an adornment constructed according to various teachings of the present invention showing, in particular, outward decorative appearance presented thereby;

FIG. 6 shows, in a bottom plan view, the adornment of FIG. 5 showing, in particular, a second fastener arrangement suitable for use in the depicted and other embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows, in a left side elevational view, a shoe generally of the character of that of FIG. 1 having applied thereto the adornment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows, in a left side elevational view, a shoe generally of the character of that of FIG. 1 having applied thereto a third preferred embodiment of an adornment constructed according to various teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows, in a front side elevational view, a fourth preferred embodiment of an adornment constructed according to various teachings of the present invention showing, in particular, outward decorative appearance presented thereby;

FIG. 10 shows, in a rear side elevational view, the adornment of FIG. 9 showing, in particular, a portions of a third fastener arrangement suitable for use in the depicted embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 shows, in a front side elevational view, an alternatively preferred embodiment of the adornment of FIG. 9 showing, in particular, a variation of the third disclosed fastener arrangement;

FIG. 12 shows, in a rear side elevational view, the adornment of FIG. 11 showing, in particular, the reversible nature of the depicted embodiment;

FIG. 13 shows, in a top plan view, a shoe having incorporated therein portions of the fastener arrangement of the adornments of FIGS. 9 and 11;

FIG. 14 shows, in a left side elevational view, additional details of the portions of the fastener arrangement shown in FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 shows, in a left side elevational view, a shoe as generally shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 and having applied thereto an adornment as generally shown in either FIG. 9 or 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize many alternative embodiments, especially in light of the illustrations provided herein, this detailed description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scope of which is limited only by the claims appended hereto.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 15, each preferred embodiment of the adornment 32 of the present invention is shown to generally comprises a decorative element 33 sized and shaped for conforming application on or about at least a portion of the nose 23 of the quarter 22 of a shoe and having associated therewith a plurality of fasteners 59. In each embodiment, the fasteners 59 are adapted affix the implemented decorative element 33 directly to the quarter 22 of the shoe 20 without use of straps or the like such as generally present an undesirable outward appearance.

In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, as particular shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the decorative element 33 generally comprises a panel 34, which may be of unitary construction or may be formed as a laminate comprising, for example, a rigid core covered on at least the front face 35 thereof with fabric 36 or the like, which may be of a solid color or any desired decorative design or pattern, and which may be affixed with stitching 37, glue and any substantially equivalent means. The rear face 78 of the panel 34 has affixed thereto a plurality of fasteners 59. As particularly shown in FIG. 3, a suitable fastener 59 may comprise a clasp 65. As is generally conventional, such a clasp 65 preferably comprises a base 66 having mounting means such as, for example, mounting holes 67 that may be accept stitching 68, rivets, glue or the like for affixing the clasp 65 to the rear face 78 of the panel 34. Additionally, such a clasp 65 also preferably comprises a keeper 71 affixed thereto with a pivot 69 and spring arrangement 70 such that the keeper 71 is adapted to securely engage the cuff 26 of the shoe 20 to which the panel is to be attached. To this end, the keeper 71 may include one or more spurs 72 or prongs. In any case, as shown in FIG. 4, the panel 34 is readily attached to the nose 23 of the quarter 22 of the shoe 20 giving great variety to the appearance otherwise presented in FIG. 1.

In other preferred embodiments of the present invention, as particularly shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, the decorative element 33 generally comprises a decorative construct 38. In one such embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, such a decorative construct 38 may comprise a first panel 39, which may be of unitary construction or may be formed as a laminate comprising, for example, a rigid core covered on at least the top side 46 thereof with fabric 40 or the like, which may be of a solid color or any desired decorative design or pattern, and which may be affixed with stitching 42, glue and any substantially equivalent means; a second panel 42 adjoined at an intersection 45 with the first panel 39 and which like the first panel 39 may be of unitary construction or may be formed as a laminate comprising, for example, a rigid core covered on at least the top side 46 thereof with fabric 43 or the like, which may be of a solid color or any desired decorative design or pattern, and which may be affixed with stitching 44, glue and any substantially equivalent means; and, if desired one or more ornaments 47 such as, for example, the depicted bow 48. In any case, the bottom side 49 of this construct has affixed thereto a plurality of fasteners 59. Although the fasteners 59 may comprise clasps 65 as previously described, Applicant has found that for such a construct as described simple flat clips 60 are simple and sufficient in use. As particular shown in FIG. 6, such clips 65 (which may also be used in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 2 through 4) may simply comprise a metal element having a base 61 bent back over a fold 62 to form a keeper 63. In any case, as shown in FIG. 7, the described construct 38 is readily attached to the nose 23 of the quarter 22 of the shoe 20, as well as to the vamp 24 of the shoe 20, giving great variety to the appearance otherwise presented in FIG. 1.

In a variation of the previously described decorative construct 38, a decorative construct 38 may be formed as shown in FIG. 8 by the provision of a plurality of ornaments 50 or the like, each having affixed to the underside thereof a suitable fastener 59 and being interconnected one to another with one or more flexible elements 51 such as, for example, the depicted chains 52. As clearly shown in FIG. 8, this adornment 32, like those previously discussed, also gives great variety to the appearance of the shoe 20 as otherwise presented in FIG. 1.

Turning now then to FIGS. 9 through 15, there is shown further preferred embodiments of the decorative element 33 of an adornment 32 implemented in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, which embodiments also make use of a novel fastener 59. In these embodiments, as particularly shown in FIGS. 9 through 12, the decorative element 33 comprises a flexible strip 53, which is sized and shaped to substantially overlay the full quarter 22 of a shoe 20. In a first specific embodiment, as particularly shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the flexible strip 53 is formed as a unitary element having a front face 54, which is made to be decorative, and a rear face 55. In a second specific embodiment, however, particularly shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the flexible strip 53 is formed as a laminate 56 having a first layer 57 and a second layer 58, whereby the first layer 57 presents a decorative front face 54 and the second layer 58 presents an also decorative rear face 55.

In a departure from the previously described embodiments, the fasteners 59 for the now described embodiments each comprise a magnetic fastener 73. To this end, each embodiment of the flexible strip 53 is provided with a plurality of ferromagnetic elements 76 such as, for example, plates 77 or like structures comprising ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel, cobalt, an alloy of neodymium or other rare earth (lanthanide) metal or the like. In the first described specific embodiment, as particularly shown in FIG. 10, the ferromagnetic elements 76 are affixed (with glue or other suitable means) to the rear face 55 of the flexible strip 53 at generally regular intervals. In the second described specific embodiment, as particularly shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, however, the ferromagnetic elements 76 are affixed to the flexible strip 53 (again at generally regular intervals) by interposing the ferromagnetic elements 76 between the first layer 57 and the second layer 58 of the laminate 56. Forming the remainder of the magnetic fasteners 73, a second set of ferromagnetic elements 74, which may also comprise plates 75 or the like as previously described, are provided in connection with the shoe 20 on which the flexible strips 53 are to be employed. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the additional ferromagnetic elements 74 are disposed between the quarter 22 and the lining 25 of the upper 21 of the shoe 20 and spaced and otherwise arranged for pairwise mating alignment with the ferromagnetic elements 76 provided in connection with the flexible strips 53.

Finally, in implementing the first specific embodiment of the flexible strips 53 (FIGS. 9 and 10), at for each pair of aligned ferromagnetic elements forming one magnetic fastener 73, one or both of the ferromagnetic elements 74, 76 must be magnetized. Additionally, if both are magnetized, care must be taken to ensure that the dipoles of the resultant magnets are oriented such that the pairs of ferromagnetic elements 74, 76 will attract one another with the front face 54 of the flexible strip facing outwardly away from the quarter 22 of the shoe 20. In implementing the second specific embodiment of the flexible strips 53 (FIGS. 11 and 12), however, only one of each pair of aligned ferromagnetic elements forming one magnetic fastener 73 should be magnetized, thereby enabling the flexible strip 53 to be reversed such that either front face 54 or the rear face 55 may be outwardly displayed with the flexible strip 53 in position for use as shown in FIG. 15. In either case, as is clearly shown in FIG. 15, this implementation like those previously described also gives great variety to the appearance of the shoe 20 as otherwise presented in FIG. 1.

While the foregoing description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize the many variations, alterations, modifications, substitutions and the like as are readily possible, especially in light of this description, the accompanying drawings and claims drawn thereto. For example, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that in implementing the second specific embodiment of the flexible strips 53 (FIGS. 11 and 12) it is desirable that the ferromagnetic elements 74 associated affixed to the shoe 20 be chosen for magnetization, thereby requiring only one set of magnets as opposed to a set of magnets for every flexible strip 53. In any case, because the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, the foregoing detailed description should not be construed as a limitation of the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims appended hereto. 

1. An adornment for application to an article of footwear, said adornment comprising: a decorative element, said decorative element being sized and shaped for conforming application about the quarter of a shoe; a plurality of fasteners operably affixed to said decorative element, each said fastener being adapted to removably affix said decorative element directly to said quarter of said shoe.
 2. The adornment as recited in claim 1, wherein said fasteners comprise a clip adapted to engage a cuff about the throat of said shoe.
 3. The adornment as recited in claim 1, wherein said fasteners comprise a clasp adapted to engage a cuff about the throat of said shoe.
 4. The adornment as recited in claim 1, wherein said decorative element comprises a panel sized and shaped to substantially overlay the nose of the quarter of said shoe.
 5. The adornment as recited in claim 4, wherein said panel comprises decorative outer face.
 6. The adornment as recited in claim 5, wherein said fasteners comprise clips, said clips being affixed to a back face of said panel.
 7. The adornment as recited in claim 5, wherein said fasteners comprise clasps, said clasps being affixed to a back face of said panel.
 8. The adornment as recited in claim 1, wherein said decorative element comprises a decorative construct.
 9. The adornment as recited in claim 8, wherein said decorative construct is sized and shaped to substantially overlay the nose of each quarter and the vamp of said shoe.
 10. The adornment as recited in claim 9, wherein said fasteners comprise clips, said clips being affixed to a bottom side of said decorative construct.
 11. The adornment as recited in claim 9, wherein said fasteners comprise clasps, said clasps being affixed to a bottom side of said decorative construct.
 12. The adornment as recited in claim 8, wherein said decorative construct comprises a plurality of individual ornaments, said ornaments being interconnected by a flexible element.
 13. The adornment as recited in claim 12, wherein said flexible element comprises a chain.
 14. The adornment as recited in claim 12, wherein said fasteners comprise clips, said clips being affixed one each to a back side of said individual ornaments.
 15. The adornment as recited in claim 12, wherein said fasteners comprise clasps, said clasps being affixed one each to a back side of said individual ornaments.
 16. A shoe for use with an article of adornment, said shoe comprising: an upper having a substantially open throat bounded by a vamp and a quarter extending from a first side of said vamp about the back of said upper and to a second side of said vamp; an interior liner extending generally about the area defined by said quarter; and a plurality of ferromagnetic elements, each said ferromagnetic element being disposed between said quarter and said liner.
 17. The shoe for use with an article of adornment as recited in claim 16, wherein each said ferromagnetic element is magnetized.
 18. A selectively adorned shoe, said selectively adorned shoe comprising: an upper having a substantially open throat bounded by a vamp and a quarter extending from a first side of said vamp about the back of said upper and to a second side of said vamp; an interior liner extending generally about the area defined by said quarter; a first set of ferromagnetic elements, each said ferromagnetic element of said first set being disposed between said quarter and said liner; a decorative strip, said decorative strip being sized and shaped to substantially overlay said quarter; a second set of ferromagnetic elements, each said ferromagnetic element of said second affixed to said flexible strip; and wherein: each ferromagnetic element of said second set is positioned for pairwise mating alignment with one ferromagnetic element of said first set; and one of each pairwise positioned ferromagnetic elements is magnetized.
 19. The selectively adorned shoe as recited in claim 18, wherein each ferromagnetic element of said first set is magnetized.
 20. The selectively adorned shoe as recited in claim 19, wherein: said decorative strip comprises a laminate having a first layer and a second layer; and each ferromagnetic element of said second set is disposed within said decorative strip between said first layer and said second layer. 